Page 57 - Advanced OT Survey Student Textbook

Study section 6: Introduction to Historical Books – Joshua,
Judges, Ruth

6.1 Connect.
Do you trust in God’s promises? The Book of Joshua is a very significant book because it
helps the reader to understand that God always fulfills his promises.

Do you feel that sin is rampant, and evil is prevailing? The Children of Israel lived in a time
that felt like that. The book of Judges is a narrative about Israel’s darkest time. It is a record
of Israel’s both spiritually and leadership decline. It is also a very beautiful book because it
also portrays God’s relentless love for his chosen people.

Do you dare to be different even when you live in dark times? The book of Ruth is a very significant book
because it reveals a remnant that remains faithful to God while living in dark times. It is also a picture of
Gentiles coming to Yahweh in faith.

6.3 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain what Pre-exilic historical books (time of conquest and
judges) of Joshua, Judges and Ruth are all about.

2. The student should be able to explain the important questions such as: what, when, where,
how.

3. The student should be able to discuss the main message and main divisions of these three
books.

4. The student should be able to create an application for life from these three historical books.

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6.3 Introduction to Historical Books

The Historical books trace the history of Israel from a theological perspective from the
conquest of the Land of Canaan under Joshua around 1400 BC to the return from the
Babylonian captivity and the close of the Old Testament around 430BC. Thus, almost 1000
years of Israel’s history are included.

The historical books fall into fairly two distinct categories
A. Pre-exilic (9 books) 1400 to 586 BC
1. Time of Conquest and the judges (3 books) 1400 to 1051BC
a. Joshua
b. Judges
c. Ruth
2. Time of the Kings (6 Books) 1051 to 586 BC
a. 1 Samuel

48 Main Contributor. Dr. Brian Gault (Prof. of Old Testament and Hebrew at Columbia International University) for
giving me permission to use most of his class notes for this Old Testament Survey. Forever grateful To God.
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